Nursing bottle nipple with control valve



March 10,1959 H. w. wrrz 2, 7 72 ,msmc BOTTLE NIPPLE wn'a common VALVE.

" Filed on. 50. 19:?

INVENTOR HENRY W- WITZ i, :21 9M a (W2, ATTYS.

- 7 ofthe nipple and the interior of the bottle 1.

flange is adapted to seat on the mouth 2 of the bottle and an internally threaded screw cap 8 of hard rubber, plastic or the like, functions to clamp the flange in liquidtight position upon the bottle mouth.

The nipple 4 has a conventional bulbtous tip 9 which, is provided with one or more relatively small holes United States Patent NURSING BOTTLE NIPPLE WITH CONTROL VALVE Henry W. Witz, Barrington, 111., assignor to Nursmatic Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1957, Serial No. 693,280

5 Claims. (Cl. 128-252) This invention relates toimprovements in a valved .nipple for a babys nursing bottle and refers particularly the liquid in the nipple is more readily forced back into the bottle than through the small hole or holes in the tip. In order to receive the liquid, the baby must exert a sucking action which results in the baby swallowing excessive amounts of air. Excessive air swallowing frequently causes aerophagia, the basic cause of so-called colic.

Valves have heretoforebeen proposed for nipples to control the back flow of liquid, hereinbefore described, but valves heretofore proposed have been complicated, expensive, diflicult to clean in many instances, unreliable in operation. 7

The present invention contemplates a nipple valve for preventing and controlling the back flow of liquid, hereinbefore described, the valve being simple in construction and operation, removable and easy to clean and extremely reliable.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detailed description.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a conventional nursing bottle having a valved nipple embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the nipple compressed and the valve seated.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve member employed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve member shown in Fig. 3 illustrating particularly the spacer flange carried by said member.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates a conventional babys nursing bottle, having a mouth 2, the

: external portion of which carries threads 3 formed integral with the glass bottle. A nipple 4 is removably carried at the mouth of the bottle and may be constructed of conventional elastic, resilient material, such as, rubber, silicon rubber or the like. The base of the nipple carries a radial flange 5 which defines a relatively large opening 6 which affords communication between the interior The 2,876,772 assented Mar. 10,1959

through which the liquid within the nipple may be extracted by the infant. Adjacent the mouth 6, an inwardly extending annular flange 11 is carried and above said flange a relatively enlarged compartment 12 is provided in the nipple. As will be hereinafter more fully described, a valve 13 engages with flange 11 and a portion of the valve is carried in the compartment 12.

The compartment 12 is defined by the nipple flange 11, side wall 14 of an enlarged portion of the nipple and an annular shoulder 15 formed in the interior of the nipple, said shoulder terminating in an inwardly extending tubular flange 16. The compartment 12 is in communi cation with the interior 7 of the bulbous portion 9fof the nipple. As will be hereinafter more fully described the tubular flange 16 functions as a stop to restrictinward movement of the valve 13. i I

The valve 13 may be constructed of a lightweight fmaterial such as aluminum, plastic or other light-weight material which can readily withstand sterilizing temperatures. which is of a diameter less than the inner diameter of nipple flange 11, the difference in diameters being such that the valve cylindrical portion 17 may move freely in the space defined by the nipple flange and liquid 18, carried in the bottle'l, may flow through the clearance space between the nipple flange and said cylindrical portion of the valve.

The cylindrical portion 17 of the valve terminates at one end in a radial flange 19 which is joined to the cylinder by a large angle conical surface 20. The opposite side of the flange is substantially flat except that a sub stantially arcuate rib 21 projects from said flat side, the rib, as will be hereinafter more fully described, functioning as a spacer flange in limiting the movement of the valve in the nipple.

When the valve 13 is disposed in operative position in the nipple, the flanged portion of the valve is disposed in the enlarged compartment 12. The valve flange 19 can, during assembly, very readily be urged through the opening defined by the nipple flange -11 due to the resiliency and elasticity of the nipple flange since said nipple flange may very'readily be temporarily deformed to per mit insertion of the flanged portion of the valve into the compartment 12. To facilitate the insertion or removal of the valve in and from the nipple a handle or knob 22 is formed upon the bottle-end of the valve.

When the valve 13 is positioned in the compartment 12 and the nipple is undistorted, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve flange 19 is spaced from the nipple flange 11 when the spacer flange or rib 21 is in contact with the tubular flange 16, or vice versa, when the valve flange 19 is in contact with the nipple flange 11, the spacer flange or rib 21 is spaced from the tubular flange 16. When flanges 19 and 11 are spaced, liquid 18 can flow past the cylindrical portion 17 of the valve, and around nipple flange 11 and valve flange 19 into the compartment 12 and space 7. Thus, when the bottle 1 is inverted, the pressure of the liquid 18 in the bottle and gravity tend to unseat the valve flange 19 and permit the filling of the nipple. The unseating of the valve flange is relatively slight, being controlled by spacer rib 21 making contact with the tubular flange 16.

The position of the bottle and valve in Fig. 1, hereinbefore described, is the normal feeding position of said parts. Hence, when the bottle is inverted or inclined, the interior of the nipple is initially filled. with milkor liquid baby food from the bottle. The infant instinctively reacts to bite or gum the nipple thereby distorting it and subjecting the liquid therein to pressure. The initial establishment of this pressure causes the valve to seat, that is, flange 19 seats upon nipple flange 11 and further when the wall 14 of the nipple is distorted the The valve comprises a cylindrical portion 17 tubular'iflange 16 'moves along the 'arcuate rib' 21 and "tends 'to"'forcethe"valve downwardly to seatwalve-flange 19 more firmly into contact with the nipple flange 11. Thereafter, further pressure upon the nipple projects the liquid through-the holes tothe'infants mouth. The biting. or fgummin'g of'the" nipple is'anintermittent operation and each time thebite is 'released,the valve 13 opens and permits additional liquid to'enter the nipple. Duringthe feeding operation these. actions are alternately repeated.

By virtue of 'the'spacenflange or rib 21 and its proximityto the tubular flange 16; the movement of the vfalve'is small and the valve responds very quickly to'the chapge of pressure conditions. in' the nipple. Moreover, "-ayhen the nipple returns from the'distorted position of Fig. 52 to'the normal position ofPFig'LI', the volume'of. the nipple jincreases andestabli'shes a reducedpressure in the nipple endingjtolflhasten theiiow or; liquid from the b'o'ttle'to e'z'nip'ple.

In .view, ofithe .fact that substantially no. sucking. action jisgrequired by .the infant, excessive air; swallowing is prevented. f 'Further, since" a'positive liquid. pressure ises .tablishedin the nipple, clogging of the small holes 10 is prevented since the pressurized liquid forces through any particles that would'norm'ally'iclog the" holes.

"Another advantage of the present device resides in ."the'i'fact that when the bottle isiturned upright, the flange "l9 seats very. lightly onfitheflange .11, since it. is now not subject to the internal biting'pressure, and the'residual'liquid in the nipple flows back into the bottle'or can be made to do so by a slight shaking of the bottle. This iisoffextreme importanceisince during the warming of the 'tiquidiif'li uid were confined in'the nipple and such "liquid were tested for warmth, it would normally be cooler thanthe'liquid in the bottle, and based on the 'temp'eratureiof the confined nipple-liquid a 'false test 'would'result whichmight lead" to serious consequences "when the liquid in "the bottle, which may be considerably .warmer than the test liquid, is fed to the baby.

"Since the basic structure of the conventional nipple [is not materially altered. the nipple can be readily cleaned andin view ofthe simplified structure of the valve, it 'I'also: can be "readily cleaned. "In addition,v thenipple .with'the valve in placemay be readily? sterilized as a unit.

j.Moclifications of the present invention which do not jdepartjfrom the spiritv of the inventionmay readily occur .to those skilled in the art and, hence, it is not intended "*thatfthe present invention be. limited to the exact details -.shown 'anddescribed except as necessitated by the append- 'fjd claims.

Pc1aim*as my invention:

1."A'.valve controlled nursing" bottle nipple compris- "ingjaflexible, resilient hipplehaving a relatively small "feeding opening at one end and a relatively enlarged "charging opening atthe opposite end, said nipple being adapted tobe carried on the mouth of a nursing bottle 't-with its "charging "opening in. communication with the interior of'the bottle through said mouth, an annular flange carried 'by'said nipple adjacent said charging open- "ing'an'd e'xtending radially inwardlyiinto said charging openin an annular shoulder carried upon .the interior wall ofthe nipple intermediate the feeding opening and --the"chargingopening; a valveloosely'positioned inthe space defined by saidnipplefflange, a flange carried by said valve within said nippleand in overlapping relationiship to'said nipple". flange, and a spacer rib. carried by said "valve .extending'transversely.to said valve flange within '*said' nipple-which is disposed adjacentfsaid "shoulder and "flim'its' inward movement of .saidwalve relative to said i'nipple by contactingsaid shoulder.

Ij-2.*'A valve controlled nursing bottle nipple compris- "fing ja'ffleriiblegre'silient nipple having a ;r.elatively small ."ff eedingopening.at'one' end and a relatively enlarged- "*fcharging opening at the opposite end; said nipple, being with-"its charging "-openingdm communication" with the interior of the bottle through said month, an annular flange carried by said nipple adjacent said charging opening and extending radially inwardly into said charging opening, an annular shoulder carried upon the interior wall of the nipple intermediate. the feeding opening and the charging opening, a valve loosely positioned in the space defined by saidnipple flange, a flange carried by said valve within said nipple and in overlapping relationship to said nipple flange whereby said valve flange may seat upon said nipple flange, and a'spacer'rib carried .by said valve extending transversely-to said valve flange within said nipple which is disposed adjacent said shoulder and limits .inwardt moveme'nt of said valve relative to said nipple by contacting said shoulder when the valve flange is unseated relative to the nipple flange.

3. A valve controlled nursing bottle nipple compris- Ling a. flexible;*resilientrnipple :having a' relatively'tsmall feeding 1'- opening at" one end and '1' a" relatively enlarged charging-opening'at theopp'o'site end, said nipple being adapted td'be carried on the'mouth' of a nursingbottle with its charging opening in communication with'the interior of the bottle through saidmouth, an'annular transversely to saidvalve'flange within said nipplewhich isdisposed-adjacent said tubular flange and limits inwardmovement of said valve relative to said nipple by contacting said tubular flange.

"4. A'v'alve controllednursing bottle nipple comprising a flexible,resilient nipple having 'a relatively small feedingopening-atone end 11mm relativelyeularged charging opening at the opposite end, said nipple being adapted to be carried on the-mouthofa nursing bottle -with"its charging openingin' communicationwith the interior of'the bottle through said mouth, an annular fiange'carried by said nipple adjacent'said charging'opening and extending radially inwardly into said charging opening, an annular shoulder carried upon the interior wallof thenipple'intermediate the feeding opening and the charging opening, a valve comprising acylindrical portion loosely positioned in the space defined by said nipple flange, 'a flange carried bythe cylindrical portion of said 'valvewithin-said nipple and in overlappingrclationship to said nipple flange'whereby said valve-flange may sieat upon said nipple-flange to'interruptcommunication through said chargingppening, and a spacer rib carried by said valve 'extending transversely to said valve flange within said nipple which is disposed adjacent said shoulderand limits inward movement-of said valve relative to saidnippleby-contacting said shoulder when the valve flange is unseated from said nipple flange.

'5. Avalve controlled'nursing bottle nipple comprising a' flexible, resilient nipplehaving a=relatively small feeding opening at one end and a relatively enlarged charging opening at the oppo'site end, said nipple' 'being adapted to be-carriedon the mouth of'a nursing hottle with its charging opening in 'communication""-with "the interior of the bottle through said mouthpan annular flange carried by said nipple a'djacentsaid charging openingand 5 extending r'adially inwardly Y into said charging opening, an 'ann'ular shoulder earried upon-the interior 'Wall of the nipple intermediate the feeding opening and tionship tosaid nipple flange, and an" areuatesp'acer I rib carried by said valve extending transversely to said valve flange within said nipple toward said shoulder and which is disposed adjacent said shoulder, said shoulder when said nipple is distorted by an infant extracting liquid from the nipple moving toward said spacer rib to a urge said valve flange toward said nipple flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,662 MacGlashan Apr. 25, 1911 2,747,573 Schaich May 29, 1956 2,803,251 White Aug. 20, 1957 

